An attorney license in the Philippines requires both a bachelor’s degree and passing the Philippine Bar Exam, which takes place every November among thousands of students from around the globe. As it’s an intensive test that takes months of study, only those dedicated to law may even attempt to become lawyers here.
Lawyers not only enjoy an attractive salary but also receive a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that includes paid holiday leaves, medical insurance coverage and other amenities.
Salary ranges
A lawyer’s salary varies based on numerous factors, including experience, location and skills. To gain an accurate picture of this range of salaries it is useful to refer back to median and 75th percentile figures as these numbers provide insight into whether you are earning fair compensation relative to professionals in similar fields and locations.
In the Philippines, an average lawyer salary consists of an estimated monthly minimum wage of 68,149 PHP; this figure does not represent legal minimum wages but instead is derived from compensation data gathered from thousands of employees.
Litigation attorneys typically receive their salaries depending on their years of experience and type of firm at which they work. With more experience comes more pay; specialization or joining a law firm specializing in specific types of cases can also increase income significantly.
Education requirements
Becoming a lawyer in the Philippines takes considerable dedication, time, and hard work. Furthermore, this profession should only be attempted by those willing to put forth effort in preparation. Law students usually must complete an intensive review program before sitting for the Philippine Bar Exam – one of the country’s toughest exams that only a small percentage pass.
Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degrees are among the most popular legal degrees available in the Philippines, typically taking four years to complete and covering subjects such as Legal Research, Civil, International Labor Remedial Laws and Legal Ethics.
Aspiring lawyers must also satisfy age and citizenship requirements before taking the Philippine Law School Admission Test (PhiLSAT). This aptitude test is mandatory for admission into law schools in the Philippines; it’s administered twice each year at designated testing centers across the nation and helps aspiring lawyers determine if a law degree is right for them.
Work environment
Filipinos are known for their sense of pakikisama (teamwork), which can be found throughout their workplace culture. Coworkers get along well and are treated like family. Furthermore, Filipinos demonstrate high ethics and respect towards their superiors.
Attorneys working in private practice tend to serve individuals and corporations alike, acting on issues ranging from contracts drafting and lawsuit filing, as well as handling national security, public interest, and civil service cases. Attorneys working for government agencies typically deal with national security cases that impact national security as well as public interest issues that require specific expertise such as national interest research.
Philippines economies are currently facing numerous economic obstacles caused by a global pandemic, which has caused decreased remittances, job loss for overseas Filipino workers, disruptions in private businesses and infrastructure development, among other problems. Yet despite these setbacks, they remain resilient; therefore it is vitally important for potential employers to understand current economic realities before hiring an attorney to represent them in Philippines legal disputes.
Benefits
Lawyers in the Philippines can earn an excellent living; their salary will depend on factors like education and experience. Professionals with higher levels of education tend to command higher wages. Gender also plays a part in compensation; men typically earning more for performing similar work.
Lawyers in the Philippines can expect additional employee benefits beyond a basic salary, including service incentive leave pay, holiday pay, night shift differential pay, 13th month pay and separation pay. Some benefits are required by Philippine labor law while others are optional.
Employees in the Philippines are entitled to health insurance through the Social Security System (SSS), with employers and employees contributing a portion of their salaries towards PhilHealth for healthcare coverage for members. Furthermore, Filipino workers qualify for both maternity and paternity leaves in addition to sick and personal leaves.